Triggering Article 50

On the day that the Prime Minister sent her letter to Brussels, triggering Article 50, I questioned her on the contents of the letter and in particular about the security of our country.

Stephen Kinnock: Thank you Mr Speaker. In her letter to Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister says:

“If…we leave the European Union without an agreement…we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms. In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.”

Is she really saying that the security of our country will be traded like a bargaining chip in these negotiations?

The Prime Minister: We will not be trading the security of our country, but we have a relationship with the European Union. There are certain elements of the European Union, in justice and home affairs, of which we are currently members and of which, on leaving the European Union, we would not be members. We need to negotiate what our future relationship will be. It is very simple and very pragmatic: the aim will be to ensure co-operation on these matters.

After the exchange I wrote to the Prime Minister, you can read my letter here.